Automatic stationary fire-extinguisher.



0, I v WU He 81".? Ila-"671.1212 dKQ/I an 7; 1319;

W. ESTY.

AUTOMATIC STATIONARY FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-27.191!- 1,21 1,834. Patented Jan. 9,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

I fi 2. v

W. ESTY.

AUTOMATIC STATIONARY FIRE EX'TINGUISHER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-27. I911- 1,21 1,834, I Patented Jam 9,1917.

ljziglO. 7.

W 886 Iru/erL/flr flttorney.

prairie s raa as PATENT enema.

WILLIAM ES'IY, 0F LACONIA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR 'IO ESTY SPRINKLER COMPANY, OF LACONIA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, A CORPORATION OF NEW HAMP- Saran.

AUTOMATIC STATIONARY FIRE-EXTINGUISHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 27, 1911. Serial No. 651,483.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM Few, of Laconia, in the county of Belknap and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Stationary Fire-Extinguishers, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention consists in improvements in that class of automatic fire extinguishers which are employed in factories and other buildings for the purpose of automatically flooding the same with water in case of the outbreak of a fire, and relates to the sprinkler head. i

The objects of the present improvements are in the main similar to those of United ,States Letters Patent No. 931,190, dated August 17, 1909, namely, to provide a resilient frame for the sprinkler head for the purpose of putting the valve under tension to resist normal pressures within the pipe system and to permit the opening of the valve should an excessive temperature be reached; and to furnish a fusible collapsible strut interposed between the valve and the resilient frame which cannot get displaced and is prompt and eflicient in action in case of a fire.

The improvements are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1, is a front view of a sprinklerhead embodying the improvements. Fig. 2, is a vertical section. Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are detail perspective views of the several parts of'which the strut is composed. Fig. 7, is a view of the several parts of the sprinkler head, exclusive of the strut, which are shown separated from each other and arranged in linear order. Fig. 8, is a view looking in the direction of the arrow 8, in Fig. 7, and showing the upper end of the coupling nut and the part of the sprinkler frame which engages said nut. Fig. 9,is an under side view of the valve.

The improved sprinkler is composed of a distributor A; a resilient frame B; a separable valve C; a coupling nut D; and a separable strut E, interposed between the valve and the resisting abutment a,- carried by the frame B. The separable strut is composed of three distinct parts, namely, a

multiplying lever F, a valve lever G, and a frame lever H. When the sprinkler is ready for installation, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, these three strut members are united together by readily fusible solder located along the several joints between the strut members, as indicated by the hatching at b, in Fig. 1. A packing is employed between the under face of the valve 0, and the valve seat 0 (Fig. 7 of the coupling nut D, which is composed of a round disk of mica I, between two roundv disks K, of waxed fiber, which are preferably employed but which are omitted from Figs. 1, and 2, because the additional lines would confuse the illustration. Hence, in Figs. 1, and'2, the mica disk I, is alone shown.

In the aforesaid Letters Patent No. 931,190, the sprinkler head frame furnished the seat for the valve and it was provided with an integral coupling boss, and it was necessary to put the sprinkler head under compression for the purpose of putting the strut in place. In accordance with the present invention the sprinkler frame B, does not carry the valve seat, but said seat is on'the separate coupling nut D. This coupling nut is formed withtwo threaded sections d, and e, and an intermediate polygonal zone f, for the reception of a wrench. By means of the lower threaded section 6, the sprinkler head may be attached to a fitting of a pipe system. The upper threaded section 03, of the coupling nut screws into an interiorly threaded collar L, which is an integral part of the resilient frame B. The integral frame B, comprises the threaded collar L, side arms M, merging into each other at the top of the frame, lateral outwardly projecting yielding side loops 0, uniting the respective side arms with the collar L, the strut abutment a, and a hollow boss g, at the extreme upper end, over which is slipped the distributer A, shown in Fig. 2, the upper end of the boss being upset upon the distributor to hold it in place, as in said Patent No. 931,190. The resilient lateral outwardly projecting side loops 0, increase the resilience of the frame and, by appropriate distribution of the metal, the frame can be constructed so as to exert any pressure which may be desired for a particular installation. These lateral outwardly projecting side loops 0, extend beyond the upwardly extending sides of the frame and each loop comprises two separated laterally extending arms connected together by the bowed outer portions. The laterally projecting side members of each bowed loop can yield to and from each other, depending upon the strains imparted to the strut. The laterally projecting yielding side loops 0 extend outwardly beyond the outer face of the corresponding side arms to such an extent that the eye of each loop extends likewise beyond the outer face of the correspondingside arm. The lower leg of each loop which joins with the collar, extends in a direction-substantially at right angles to the line of' strain between the collar and abutment and the upper leg of each loop, which joins with the side arm, extends approximately in a direction at right angles to the line of strain. The result of this construction is that the sprinkler frame is adequately strong and at the same time is sufficiently yielding. By reason of the late-rally projecting yielding side loops 0 extending out beyond the main portions of the side arms M of the frame, inwardly extending or reentrant bends P, are formed, and these bends in connection with the outwardly projecting loops 0 give the desired yielding character to the frame. The valv C, has depending lugs h (as in said Pa ent No. 931,190) which fit around the periphery of the valve seat, as shown in Fig. 1, thereby preventing the lateral displacement of the valve and of the mica and fiber packing I, K. The valve is furnished at the middle of its upper face with a central boss '5, having a rounded crown upon which the strut may pivot. I I

The valve lever G, of the strut has a bottom flange j, and a plate is. The flange j, on its under side (see Fig. 6) has a hemispherical socket Z, at its middle which is ada ted 4 to fit the crown of. the valve boss 2', an to constitute therewith a pivotal step bearing for the strut. On its upper face the flange 1', has two recesses m, near its ends to receive projecting feet 0, at the bottom of the multiplying lever F. The frame lever H, has a plate p,=and a flange g, at an angle thereto and this flange at the middle of its upper face has an ellipsoidal or elongated recess T, which is adapted to fit the rounded elongated crown of the abutment a. The strut is assembled by laying the faces of the two plates is and p, of: the levers G, and H, to-

gether, so that the flange g, of the lever H,

will rest and fulcrum u on the upper angu-- lar edge 8, of the lever as shown in Fig. 2. The multiplying lever lies against the outer face of the plate p, of the lever H, and its feet 0, fit into the recesses m, in the flange of the lever G, and constitute a pivotal connection between said levers. The three members are then united by a low-test solder. Each of the three strut members has a central through hole It, and when the three mem bers are assembled these holes register with each other to constitute a single through passage, as shown in Fig. 2. The purpose of these registering holes is to facilitate the transmission of heat to the soldered surfaces of the strut.

The sprinkler is assembled by pai rtly screwing the coupling nut D, to the collar L, of the frame, putting the valve, packings, and strut into position, and by then screwing the coupling nut home in the collar un- I til the upper face or limiting shoulder of the polygonal zone 7, seats against the bottom face of the collar L, as shown in Fig. 2. This screwing u of the coupling nut, acting through the'va ve, .forces the strut against the abutment a, of the frame and expands the frame B, through the spreading apart of the yielding loops 0, thereby putting the desired permanent tension upon the strut.

In the event of a fire, the solder of the strut is melted and, owing to the tension of the resilient'frame on the strut, the members of the strut are ruptured and torn apart with certainty and instantaneously. The construction of the strut insures the flying apart of its members so soon as the solder is weakened by heat and before the valve is j lifted far enough to permit the escape of water, which otherwise might chill the solder and prevent the full opening of the valve. As soon as the solder is sufficiently softened, the tension on the strut causes the two levers G, and H, to swing apart on the fulcrum formed by the flange g, resting on the edge 8, of the plate 70, so that the lower edge of the plate p, of lever H, swings outwardly to a relatively large extent and, as this lower edge of plate p, is close to the fulcrum between the multiplying lever F, and the flange j, said multiplying lever is thrown outwardly at once, thus removing its soldered surfaces entirely out of'reach of the other members of the strut.

Owin to the elongated or ellipsoidal shape 0 the recess 1', fitting the correspondingly shaped crown of the abutment a, the strut is maintained permanently in the position shown in Figs. 1, and 2, with the sides of the strut within and protected by the side arms M, of the frame, so that the strut is protected from accidental blows. Also, what is of greater importance, the strut is thus maintained in its position for certain operation, since it can fly open to its full extent in case of a fire without encountering the frame, which encounter would occur if the strut stood at right angles to the position shown in Figs. 1, and 2. By reason of tiii is based on the assumption that the 65 the elongated bearing between the abutment and the upper end'of the strut, and the pivotal step bearing between the lower end of the strut and the valve, the strutturns with the frame when the frame is screwed down to its proper adjustment to expand the frame at the side loops and to puttension upon the strut.

' It is the commercial practice in the manufacture of sprinkler heads to assemble them with the parts in correct position and under proper tension at the place of manufacture and it is important that the proper adjustment, being once reached, should not be altered either accidentally or intentionally. Accordingly, it is important that, after the parts have been properly assembled, the coupling nut should be locked against unscrewing from the sprinkler frame. sprinkler frame is provided with notches 10,

at its upper'face and extending from its interiorly threaded center. When the coupling nut has been screwed home, the thr ads of the section (Z, of the nut, where they are exposed at the notches w, are pressed into the notches by any appropriate tool, thereby locking the nut from turning. In Fig. 2, these nut-locking notches are shown at the most exposed portions of the collar L, but

it is preferable that they should be located in line with the spring loops 0, as shown in Fig. 8, so as to avoid any weakening of the frame by reason of their presence.

All of the parts of the sprinkler (except ing the packing I, K) are made of metal of the character customarily employed. All

of the parts can be made of a non-corrodible composition of copper and tin, but phosphor-bronze, manganese bronze, or any other non-corrodible metal capable of being cast may beemployed. Preferably, however, the multiplying lever F, is made of German silver. In Fi s. 10, and 11, are shown modified forms 0 the multiplying lever. The lever F shown in Fig. 10, is a wire bent to form two legs a, as, which rest against the outer face of the strut lever H, and are soldered thereto. lhe lower ends of the legs a2, :2, fit in suitable spaced recesses m m in the flange j, of the valve'lever G shown in Fig. 12. The multiplying lever F shown in Fig. 11, has its base uppermost, and its two feet 0 0 at its narrow end fit in the recesses m m of the valve levers shown in Fig. 12.

This lever F is soldered againstthe outer.

face of the lever H, just as in the case of the lever F. In installing such sprinkler heads,

they are usually placed above the pipes to which they are connected so that they stand asshown in the drawings. lihey may, however, be used in any position; but the phraseology herein describing direction and posi- Accordingly, the collar L, of the sprinkler head is upright as shown in the drawings.

I claim:

1. A collapsible strut for a sprinkler comprising, in combination, a valve lever with an angular upper edge and a flange at its bottom having a valve registering recess at the middle of its underside and two spaced recesses on its upper face; a frame lever having a flange at its top resting on the angular upper edge of said valve lever, said flange having an abutment registering recess at the middle of its upper face, said frame lever lying face to face against said valve lever; and a multiplying lever lying against the outer face of said frame lever and having projecting feet at its bottom entering said spaced recesses in the upper face of the flange of said valve lever, andsaid three levers being united together by fusible solder.

2 A sprinkler head having an integral frame comprising a threaded collar, side arms, a strut abutment at the juncture of the side arms and o posite the center of said collar, and latera ly projecting resilient side loops, each ofwhich connects the collar with one of the. side arms, the eye of each loop extendingoutwardly beyond the outer face of the corresponding side arm, and both legs of the loop extending in a direction substantially at right angles to the line of strain between the collar and abutment, in combination with a nut screwing into said collar, said nut having a limiting shoulder seating against said collar and a valve seat; means for positively'locking said nut and collar together after the collar is seated on said shoulder; a valve fitting on said valve seat; and a collapsible fusible strut between said valve and abutment.

3. A sprinkler head having an integral frame comprising a threaded collar, side arms, a strut abutment at the juncture *of the side arms and o posite the center of said collar; and latera ly projecting resilient side loops, each of which connects the collar with one of the side arms, the eye of each loop extending outwardly beyond the outer face of the corresponding side-arm, and the leg of the loop which joins the collar extending in a direction substantially at right angles to the line of strain between the collar and abutment, in combination with a nut screwing into said collar, said nut having a limiting shoulder seating against said collar and a valve seat; means for positively locking .said nut and collar together after the collar is seated on said shoulder; a valve fitting on said valve seat; and a collapsible fusible strut between said valve and abutment.

ment, in combination with a nut screwing In witness whereof, I have hereunto into said collar, said nut having a limiting signed my name in the presence of two sub- 10 shoulder seating zizgainst said 010111211 and g scribing Witnesses.

va ve seat; means or ositive 0c 'n sai nut 'and collar togeth er after the col ar is WILLIAM ESTY seated on said shoulder; a valve fitting on Witnesses:

said valve seat; and a collapsible fusible C. W. TYLER,

strut between said valve and abutment. A. W. DINSMOOR. 

